CLEVELAND, Ohio - St. Mary's T.J. Blanton was named as the Mid American Conference's Scholar-Athlete of the Week last week, playing centerfield for Bowling Green.

Blanton hit .429 (6-for-13) and scored a team-high seven runs last week, helping lead the Falcons to a 3-1 mark.

This past weekend in a three-game sweep of Ball State, Blanton went 6-for-13 with six runs, and scored the game-winning run after his bunt single led off the inning in a 3-2 win. In the third game, Blanton led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a single and scored on a walk-off home run to win 9-7.

For the season, Blanton, a junior, is batting .339 and has played in all 34 games, including 31 starts. He has five home runs and 17 RBIs.

Last year he played in 25 games, including 22 starts, but had his season end early when he fouled off a pitch fracturing his left tibia. He batted .341 with a home run and 12 RBIs before the injury.

His freshman season he played in 26 games with four starts and batted .400 (10-for-25) with a double and five RBIs.

Blanton was a three-year letter winner for Sandusky St. Mary, where he batted .488 with a home run, two triples and 10 doubles as a senior. As a junior, he hit .462 with four home runs, three triples and 10 doubles. He was the team MVP following both seasons. He still holds the St. Mary school record with hits in a season with 42. He also lettered in football and wrestling.

Stay tuned for an update on his college teammates Brennan Smith (Perkins) and Clay Duncan (Norwalk).

swalker@MorningJournal.com